"Wish I knew who or what to believe with Ruger and availability ( or not ) of their products."
I go to the SHOT Show. I go to the NRA National Convention. I spend a lot of time talking to the top people at Ruger. I've also gone to one of their plants for a tour. (I was invited by Ruger.)
A plant has X number of assembly lines. The same plant has the responsibility to build many more models of guns than they have the assembly lines to do so. They also have to have the assembly lines manned by workers with the knowledge to build whatever model they are running.
So, they set up a line & build say,, 5,000 or whatever of a specific model. (I made these numbers up to help in explaining things.) They then reconfigure the line to build a different model. Model availability goes in cycles because of this. They might make 5,000 of a model, and only sell 1,000 initially. That means that the remaining 4,000 sit in a warehouse to be distributed as orders for those guns come in. During that time, they are trying to build other models to fill in their inventory.
Now, let's step back to the employees who actually build the guns.
First off, to get a job at Ruger, you have to pass a FBI background check, AND pass regular drug testing. That's just to get considered for employment. Next,, you need skills, OR,, schooling to where they can use you on an assembly line.
And while many feel the excuse is old,, it caused a chain reaction that's still being felt. The covid shut downs. At one point, (and this came directly from a top executive at Ruger,) 65% of their workforce was out because of covid. As the covid crap dragged on,, it took a toll on production, (many models were just not made, period.) And as covid started easing up, many skilled & eligible employees failed to return to work. Some just retired, some found other jobs, some took the "free money" & quit.
It takes time & training to get new hires trained to building different models of guns. Especially some models that require more specialized labor. (Revolvers over semi-autos, bolt actions over modular AR designs etc.)
Now let's throw in a place like Lipsey's. At least there,, Jason has a solid passion to try & offer us various models that we want. But he too is limited in what Ruger can produce in a specific timeframe.
And remember,, Ruger tries to keep expenses down so they can sell a gun at a fair profit & stay in business.
So when a model isn't currently available,, there is likely various reasons it's not CURRENTLY available. But if there is enough demand they will build more of them. But if they build that 5,000 guns, and the remaining 4,000 sit in the warehouse for 5 years w/o good quick sales, don't expect that model to be made any time soon.